The Gut Connection: Unraveling The Origins of Dis-ease
The topic of gut health and the role of the gut in general, is quickly becoming more common. As our world continues to get sicker, people are starting to look to the gut as a contributor, or even cause, of their their body’s disfunction or illness. With the way it is trending, it can almost seem that gut health is a “new discovery”, but the reality is that it has been the root of illness for so much of history. There are so many questions surrounding mysterious symptoms, unexplained ongoing illness or chronic digestive issues — but what if your gut has the answers? In this blog I’ll be diving into gut health, how it can be the root of your issues, as well as ways that you can try to maintain a healthy gut climate.
The Digestive System
Hippocrates once said, “all disease begins in the gut”. These wise and oh-so-true words offer an explanation to overall health that we’ve been needing for a long time. How does disease begin in the gut and why, you ask?
Let’s dig in.
The GI tract is a marvel of complexity, housing trillions of microorganisms running from the mouth to the anus. Collectively these microorganisms are known as the gut microbiome. This diverse community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes play a crucial role in maintaining gut health, regulating immune function, synthesizing essential nutrients, and influencing brain health and behavior (through the gut-brain axis).
Digestion, the primary role of the GI tract, is an intricate and delicate system that serves as the main way our bodies take in nutrients. Everything we ingest, from food to environmental toxins, passes through the gut where it encounters the microbiome and the gut’s own immune system.
The Gut Breakdown
The way that our digestive system interacts with ingested materials can have profound implications on our health, as disruptions in microbial balance can lead to a negative cascade of events throughout the body.
One of the most well studied consequences of microbial imbalance,or “dysbiosis”, is increased intestinal permeability, often referred to as leaky gut. In this condition, the integrity of the gut lining is compromised allowing harmful substances like bacteria, toxins and undigested food molecules to leak into the bloodstream. This breach triggers an inflammatory response, which if chronic, can contribute to the development of a number of diseases and symptoms like migraines, IBS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and joint pain, sleep disturbances, and mental disorders.
70-80% of the body’s immune cells are located in the gut. This further underscores the importance of gut health in the role of disease prevention as there is an intimate relationship between digestive health and immune function. When the gut microbiota is disrupted, it can lead to immune dysregulation, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases, allergies and other immune related disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3337124/
Emerging research has also implicated the gut microbiome in the development of metabolic disease, like obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-021-00991-6
Dysbiosis induced inflammation can lead to disruption in metabolic function, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol levels and fat storage. Type 2 Diabetes has been associated with a reduced abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria and short chain fatty acids, in particular butyrate, which has been linked with insulin sensitivity. “The link between short chain fatty acids and insulin sensitivity lies in the ability of SCFAs to trigger the secretion of GLP-1 by intestinal L-cells, which has a substantial impact on pancreatic function and insulin release, as well as central effects regulating appetite.”
The gut-brain axis serves as another crucial link between gut health and disease. Communication between the gut and the brain occurs bi-directionally through neural, hormonal and immunological pathways. Disruptions in the communication between the brain and the gut, often driven by dysbiosis and inflammation are implicated in the development of various mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, Autism and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
How to Maintain a Healthy Gut
So, what can be done to support gut health and mitigate the risk of disease?
Eat a well balanced diet focused on fresh vegetables, fruit, lean (good quality) sources of meat, healthy fats, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Incorporate probiotic rich foods like unsweetened greek yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, apple cider vinegar, and fermented vegetables into the diet.
Eat loads of prebiotic rich foods (this is what feeds healthy bacteria). Apples, oats, onions, garlic, chicory, jerusalem artichoke, asparagus, cocoa, nuts, berries, flax seeds are some options.
Make sure your digestive function is optimal, as sub-optimal digestion OVERFEEDS bacteria and contributes to LEAKY GUT! This means that if you are experiencing gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea or cramping, there is something amiss. You will want to work with a professional to correct the imbalance.
Test for food sensitivities as this is a major contributor to inflammation.
Reduce stress as much as possible. I know, this sounds like a broken record but stress is one of the biggest players when it comes to inflammation and gut health. Yoga, tai chi, meditation, prayer, journaling, dancing, laughing, whatever it takes…to add some balance into your life.
Get good sleep as it is crucial for healing, and get help when you have a hard time with it.
Exercise regularly as it has been shown to increase beneficial bacteria!
By nurturing our gut microbiome and maintaining a healthy gut environment, we can empower ourselves to prevent and even reverse the onset of various diseases.
Start Your Gut Health Journey
Whether you are having chronic health issues of some sort and are desperate for answers, or you’re just ready to take a deeper look into YOUR gut, I’m here to help you. It’s my passion to find the root cause of your struggles and address them with completely manageable protocols and lifestyle changes. I offer tests that provide a detailed insight into the climate of your gut, so we can pinpoint exactly what is out of balance and needs to be addressed. Your gut could be the root of all of your dis-ease, and I’m here to help you figure it all out!
